Shad Raps

[rowyourboat]

do you guys have any luck with the rapala shad raps? if so, how do you fish them? and when?

 

kind of looks more like a jerk bait... but i could also see just cranking it..... but anyways, i'll shut up and listen/learn. thanks guys!

[iabass8]

I cast them on wing dams and rip rap for walleye throughout the year but more so during the late summer, early fall before temps drop and the jig/plastic bite picks up. They have a more subtle action than traditional wide wobble cranks that makes them very hard to beat during colder water temps. Rapala does make a jerk bait but I don't use the shad rap 5/7/9 as jerkbaits as they are much too buoyant. 

[Marty]

They've been my favorite crank ever since they were introduced 30+ years ago. I use both the shallow and deep-running models and fish them from spring through fall. I've only cranked them, never used them as jerkbaits, but they should work that way too.

[The Next KVD]

I just crank them.  I do use a spinning outfit with 8lb line with them instead of my regular cranking setup.  Shad Raps are the BEST coldwater crank I've ever found.

[bassh8er]

I used to throw the shallow shad rap A LOT in the spring, but have gotten away from them for some reason.

I plan on buying enough at BPS on Friday at the classic and mail in the rebate to get a "Free" t-shirt.

[Bluebasser86]

I like to put a couple suspend dots on the belly of a #5 shad rap and fish it on a ML spinning rod with 8lb test with a stop and go retrieve. They work well with a straight retrieve also though. 

[Sam]

Very good bait.

 

Try the silver with black back #5's and #7's.

[CTGalloway21]

Shad Raps have one of the tightest wobbles of all crankbaits (compared to a Bandit which has a wide wobble).  This is perfect for water below 50 degrees.  Minnows and Shad swim tighter in colder water and the shad rap mimics this.  Great for trolling out of a kayak as well.  

[smalljaw67]

I love the shad rap and I have a nice selection of #5's and #7's but the #5 is a better producer and the only crank I use on spinning gear. On 8'b line the #5 will dive around 4' on 6lb line you will get it to go to 5' but this isn't a crank that you want dragging the bottom, this is one you would use as others have said, in colder water between the high 40's and high 50's. I throw them where I have "45 degree" banks which are steep banks that just a few feet from shore the water is deep and gets like that gradually. I fish it over water between 6' to 12' deep depending on weather, water temp, and where I'm seeing fish on the graph.

[KevO]

They are the best crankbait from fall through the spring.

[aharris]

awesome crankbait...especially around riprap

[OkobojiEagle]

awesome crankbait...especially around riprap

 

Burn that little tidbit into your brain.

 

I fish the plastic suspending shad raps as a hybred crank/jerk bait.  I like to jerk them around rock and then let them settle for a few seconds.  They'll settle a little nose down as if feeding.  When I've banged the rock a couple of times I lift my rod tip and pull them up a foot or so above the rock and let them sit for a few seconds again.  I use the #5, #7 & #9... or maybe they're the #4, #6 & #8... I'm not good with numbers.

 

Around shallower rip rap try the #9 flat rap... a slow rising minnow bait.  I add a little weight till it ALMOST suspends.

 

oe

[0119]

The newer version I think its called x-rap shad, has caught me alot of fish the last six months.  Saltwater fish too.  I mostly use it as a jerk bait in very shallow water.

[cadman]

Very good bait.

 

Try the silver with black back #5's and #7's.

 

 

x2, I use them mainly in Spring and Fall when the water is colder and getting colder. As stated excellent tight wobble. Definitely not a jerk bait. I use the Husky Jerk for that. Another excellent bait from Rapala.